Curtea de Arges, Romania May 2010

For 7 days, a team of 32 volunteers made up of optometrists, optician, optometry students from Montreal and Waterloo as well as some other volunteers offered a free  eye clinic in this little town near Pitesti, Romania. We received over 3,031 patients. Some patients were sent for emergency treatment at a local hospital for some serious problems. Thanks to all the team who worked with a lot of enthusiasm to bring help to the less fortunate.

Missions to Romania and Morocco May 2010

Friday April 30th  a group of 32  will be leaving for a free eye mission to Romania near Pitesti west of  Bucharest. Saturday May 1st another group will be leaving for Layoune in southern Morocco for an eye mission. The two groups are composed of optometrists, opticians, volunteers and optometry students from Montreal and Waterloo Universities.

Optometrists and Opticians

We are looking for more optometrists for the mission to Morocco departure May 1st and return May 20th after a few days of rest. As well we are looking for  optometrists for the mission to Peru  departure Aug,. 7th return either Aug. 18th or Aug. 22nd for those  going to Machu Pichu.

We also require  opticians for the mission to Peru in August.

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Please contact Pierre Labine    l53p@hotmail.com

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LaBarxca, Mexico, November  22nd – 28 th  2009

A team  made up of 40 volunteers from Canada, United States, Australia and Mexico offered a free clinic to over 2,780 patients . Despite problems at customs, the team was able to respond to the needs of patients arriving from all around LaBarca. Three patients  were sent to hospital for emergency  help to save their eyesight. Our oldest  patient was a lady of 105 . we  now have to make up 117  pairs of glasses with  high prescriptions. A special  thanks to all the  and hopefully the optometry students  will pursue and participate in upcoming missions.

Lima, Peru

A group of 35 volunteers held a 6 day  clinic in San Juan de Lurigancho from Sept  21st  until Sept 27th The mission was held in Fe y Alegria  school  no 25  founded by the Congregation of Holy Cross in 1978.We offered eye exams to  over 2,500  students  in this barrio of over a million  residents.  A few  students with serious eye problems were  given follow ups to save their eyesight.  A special thanks to all the team .

Official Incorporation of Oeuvres Vosh Santa Cruz

We have just received our recognition  by Revenue Canada and Revenue Québec  officially recognizing us as a non-profit NGO This incorporation came into being  July 17th 2009 . As of January 1st 2010, we will be able to issue  official receipts  and receive donations from  foundations.  Our official number is 850587064 RR0001

Taghjijt, Morocco May 1 - 19th 2009

A group of 30 volunteers offered a free 7 day clinic in the south of Morocco. Over 2,300 patients were received and examined with 150 patients being referred for follow up with ophthalmologist for varying pathologies.  We hope   that there will be follow ups.  Eye care  was provided  to a very disadvantaged  population. Many patients expressed their appreciation  by their patience and  smiles.  A special thanks to all the team.

Brasov , Romania    May 3td – 16th 2009

A group of 44 volunteers  from Canada, United Sates and Holland offered a 7 day clinic in Brasov, Transylvania Romania. We received 3,546 patients during the clinic. The team was composed of optometrists from Canada, United States and Holland. There was also optometry students from  the Universities of Montreal and Waterloo as well as many other  volunteers.  Thank You to all  who made this mission possible.

10th Anniversary

            May 2009 will mark our 10th anniversary of our first mission to Puerto Escondido in Mexico.  Since this first mission,  we have had many missions not only to Mexico but to Tunisia, Morocco, Romania, Cameroon , Haiti , Senegal and Ecuador. With this year’s missions, we will top the 100,000 patient mark who have benefited from  our free clinics. Presently we now have a large  warehouse where many volunteers come to help. We also have a workshop with 3 edging machines enabling us to re-cut and make new glasses. This year will also mark our incorporation as a non-profit  NGO.

Departure

On May 2nd and 3td, 75 volunteers will be leaving for Morocco and Romania. May optometry students form  Montreal and Waterloo will be participating.  AS well optometrists form Canada,  Unites States and Holland  will be offering their services  for these 2 missions. We  hope to receive 7,000 patients during the 7 day clinic.

VOSH Santa Cruz Day in Lasik Clinics

On Monday February 23td, there will be a VOSH Santa Cruz day in all the Lasik clinics throughout Canada from Calgary to St.Johns, Newfoundland . Employees will analyze glasses which will be used in upcoming missions. Ove4r 100 volunteers will participate in this day

Mazamitla, Mexico

WE moved the clinic from Ciudad Guzman to Mazamitla , a small city up in the mountains, We received 2,185 patients during the 4 days of clinic. Once more, 6 persons, one being a 14 year old had their eyesight saved thanks to the intervention of the clinic to provide him with medication to fight a serious infection which would have left him blind. A young mother with 4 young children was diagnosed with an inflammation of her brain which was life threatening. She was immediately sent for care to the next town.

Ciudad Guzman, Mexico

A group of 42 volunteers arrived in Mexico on November 15th for an 8 day eye mission. The group is composed of 28 optometry students from Canada, Australia and the United States. As well, there optometrists, opticians and volunteers from Canada. During the 4 days of clinic in Guzman, we received 2,200 patients including eye exams in a woman's prison. We offered free eye exams and gave out eyeglasses according to required prescription. Thanks to the clinic, 5 persons had their eyesight saved from serious infections and other problems. One person showing symptoms of an imminent stoke was sent to hospital and treated. The mission will continue for another 4 days in Mazamitla. Pictures will be posted later on when the group returns.

Guayaquil-Cuenca, Ecuador   July 2008

   A group of 27 volunteers left July 27th for Ecuador. The group was composed of optometrists, opticians and volunteers from Quebec City, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Charlottwon and Houston. We began at the University Hospotal in Guayaquil where we received 1,484 patients. We then left for Cuenca in the Andes, an anicnet Inca  city  over 2000 years old.   After  climbing  to 4,200 m  we descnded to 2,600 m in the valley where Cuenca is located.  during the 4 day clinic, we received another 1,445 patients, mostly Indians  descendants of the Incas. Over the past 3 years, over 15,00o patients in Ecuador have benefited from the our clinics. Nest year , we will be working in Guayaquil and Rio Bamba , a city near  one of the highest volcanoes in the world.

Good news!! This is the text that will appear in all Catholic parished in all over Canada, in french and english

Text in french

Text in english

2008 Fund Raising Campaign

In 2009, Vosh Santa Cruz will celebrate its tenth birthday of foundation. At this time, more than 100.000 000 destitute and needy persons will have received a free eye examination, together with a pair of glasses corresponding as closely as possible to their prescription.

These projects require more and more material (purchase and maintenance of equipment) in order to fulfil appropriately the needs of the populations that we visit. This is why the organization committee of the Vosh Santa Cruz is launching a fund raising campaign to collect funds for future projects. This money will be used to buy the equipment that is necessary to ensure the missions on going success. Thanks to donations, we were able to purchase a portable bio microscope, a 2^nd portable auto-refractor and 2 sets of trial lenses. The goal of this campaign is 10 000$

We solicit your participation to our campaign in order to reach our goal which is to improve poor people’s eyesight. We are therefore giving you this opportunity to make a contribution by giving generously to Vosh Santa Cruz.  A receipt for tax purposes will be issued in your name.

Tiznit, Morroco May 5th – 12th 2008

         On May 4th, a group of 45 arrived in Agadir to compete their trip by bus to the provincial capital city Tiznit. The group was made up of  8 optometrists, 19 optometry students from Montreal and Waterloo, 6 opticians and 12 volunteers. The four corners of Canada were represented from British Columbia to New Brunswick passing through the prairies, Ontario and Quebec. During  6 ½ days, we received over 5,020 patients mostly children and teenagers form the  locals schools and those in the country. Our oldest patient was a lady of 105 who spoke loudly with her smile when she received her glasses ( +9.75 –200 cyl add of + 300). Our hosts were fantastic assuring us a warm welcome.  A special thanks to the team who realized team work.  Next mission Guayaquil and Cuenca , Ecuador, departure July 17th

LaBarca, Mexico : November 18th till the 27th

          The group arrived November 16th in Puerto Vallarta to avoid problems at Mexican Customs in Guadalajara like last year. Everything went well and after a night on the bus, we arrived at the hotel in LaBarca at 6 am. We installed the clinic and took the rest of the day off to rest. We began the clinic on November 18th for 4 days, took a day off and did another 4 days of clinic. We received 3,966 patients. Thank You to our hosts who warmly received us. A special thansk to all who participated in making the clinic a success. We also visited a school in Puerto Vallarta to examine school children as a special thanks to the Rotary Club in Puerto Vallarta who facilitated our arrival in Pouerto Vallarta.

Guayaquil and Manta July 2007

         On July 15th, the first members of the team arrived in Manta to prepare the clinic. During 3 days, we went into 10 schools in the poor barrios and villages around Manta. We were able to check the children and teenagers to see who needed to come to the clinic. On July 19th, the balance of the team arrived in Guayaquil. The next morning, we set up the dispensary and after an opening ceremony, we began the clinic for the next 4 days. We were able to check and receive close to 5,000 patients. Thanks to all those who participated. A special thanks to our hosts in Guayaquil and Manta who received us so warmly.

Pernament Clinic

         Thanks to the donation of optometry equipment, a permanent will be installed at the University hospital in Guayaquil. This clinic will offer the possibility for those living in this large poor neighbourhood to receive eye exams.